Carolina Theatre
226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte,
NC
28202
226 N. Tryon Street,
Charlotte,
NC
28202
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 189 comments
Mark: This is difficult to read and I hope that somehow the Carolina Theatre has a future in Charlotte, but with the troubled economy one can only wonder what will happen to the Carolina.
It has been over a year since the latest project to save the Carolina was announced and unfortunately nothing has been started. I suspect this project will be a victim of the troubled economy and that the Carolina will be lost.
November will mark the 30 year anniversary of the theater closing. This project has had so many potential renovation/ restoration plans dashed over the last 3 decades that I just don’t see anything coming to its rescue.
charlie c: Thanks for the website…very nice. Hope to see you this winter.
Go to our new website: www.carolinatheatre.us The facade will be the original facade put back together that is now being stored in the theatre.
In the online Encore sales brochure it shows how the Carolina Theatre marquee would look which is very similar to the original design, imo.
http://www.cmhpf.org/surveys&rcarolinatheater.htm
This site shows some wonderful b/w photos of the interior and exterior as they once were along with interesting historical information.
Mark in NC: At one time were you ever involved with the Carolina Theatre Preservation Society? I won’t be able to attend the Encore party event, but hope you do and post here afterwards. If you wish to contact me via email, the address is
On October 16th from 6-8 at 6th and Tryon in Charlotte NC there will be a party put on by Encore to review their residental plan with tours of the Carolina Theatre along with cocktails and appetizers. For more information on this event please contact .com
The Charlotte Observer reported on new plan with additional developers to once again attempt to save the Carolina. A new 20 story condo tower is planned for the vacant lot in front of the theater. The disassembled facade would be incorporated into the tower along with a new lobby. The tower would have three floors of office space and up to 20 condo units with prices starting at $1.7 million and going up to $5 million. A management company has been named to operate the Carolina and TIF money from the condos would go to operations too. The non profit preservation society still needs to raise millions for the restoration. I hope this effort works. The fundraising might prove difficult though with a for profit company running the theater. More info is at www.encorecharlotte.com
IN THE 1960’S I RENTED ONE OF THE “STORES” SHOWN ON THE ARCHITECT RENDERINGS FOR THE THEATER.
I OPENED CHARLOTTE’S FIRST “HEAD SHOP” ON THE SITE FACING EIGHTH STREET, AND WAS ALSO A RADIO PERSONALITY.
I REMEMBER SNEAKING IN THE SIDE DOOR AND WATCHING “2001” DOZENS OF TIMES. I COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE MOVIE!
I WALKED EVERY INCH OF THE OLD THEATER LATER WHEN I SOLD AD TIME FOR RADIO, AND WORKED WITH KERMIT HIGH AND RON HINES WO MANAGED THE THEATER. BACK STAGE WAS A DELIGHT. I FOUND LOTS OF DANCE SHOES AND THINGS USED FOR LIVE SHOWS AT THE THEATER. DUST COVERED EVERYTHING.
CCW
Thanks for your recent Carolina Theatre post which I have cut and pasted to someone in the Charlotte area who has been involved with the idea of restoring this theatre for 20 years! This person has seen personality conflicts, ETC. that has kept this theatre from being restored!
Yes, it’s a shame because a restored Carollina is just what Charlotte needs!
It’s been well over a year since the condo project at the Carolina was announced and nothing has happened yet. I’m afraid this project is not going to happen and the Carolina will be lost. The next door neighbor, The Mint Museum of Craft + Design in the old Montaldo’s department store, is vacating their space in 2009 and I predict both buildings will come down for some bigger project. That’s just my gut feeling but it wouldn’t surprise me for someone to assemble these two properties to create a footprint for some taller tower. The effort to save the Carolina has been too fractured over the years and hasn’t raised any money to speak of. I don’t think the restoration project has been taken seriously for some time. It’s a shame because a restored Carolina is just what Charlotte needs. I just don’t see enough local support to make this a reality though.
On February 10, 1956 Elvis did four shows at Charlotte’s Carolina Theater on N. Tryon………2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Later that year, on June 26,he returned to Charlotte and did an 8:30 p.m. show at the old Charlotte Coliseum on Independence Blvd.
“Work In Progress” is an interesting choice of words as
“Vacant/Not In Use” is certainly accurate.
Thanks again as I’ve visited this historical site though don’t recall seeing the aerial view with storefronts and how that entire area looked with the still standing brick theatre behind though what is seen next to the street is gone except for the theatre facade that has been saved and numbered, to my understanding. Unfortunately, the marquee has been gone for a long time.
Briarhopper: Best wishes in your efforts to write a book on Clarene Etters and Jane Bartlett. BTW, what were (or are) the WBT Briarhoppers?
There seems to be alot of CT chatter about NC theatres, in general over the past few days so thought I’d check this link out, but nothing since Sept. 24th. If anyone knows anything in regards to the plans to restore this one, please post as locals aren’t telling me much!
Can anybody lend information on Clarence Etters (former organ player at the theater) and/or Jane Bartlett (possible violinist at the theater)? Both were members of the first group of WBT Briarhoppers and we are writing a book on them. Heck, if you have info on Johnny McAllister, Thorpe Westerfield, Bill Davis, or others, let me know. You can email me at Thanks
The film “The Story of Ruth” (1960) had its world premiere at the Carolina Theatre. That evening South Tryon Street was awash in klege lights and glamour as one of the films stars, Peggy Wood, made a personal appearence. Miss Wood is also known for her role as the “Mother Abbess” in “The Sound of Music”. Miss Wood made her entance that evening cruising down South Tryon Street perched on the back of a brand new 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible (provided by City Chevrolet). Pics of the event are avaliable on micro-film at the main library. Not sure of the exact date.
Patsy,
The Carolina will not show up on the CT architect list until the editors change this page from “unknown†to R.E. Hall.
Vestal Press did a reprint of both volumes of “American Theatres of Today†several years ago. This is when I bought my copy. The Carolina Theatre is on pages 110 and 111 of volume 1.
I also noticed that Ken Roe also posted this information on this thread on Dec. 4, 2004. I also dug though my “Marquee†file and found Vol 18 #3, and yes there was the information on the Carolina Theatre just as Ken had posted. So the evidence is pretty conclusive that R.E. Hall did design the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte.
tntim: Are the drawings and pictures in “American Theatres of Today” of the Carolina Theatre? I found the book on a used book website and the price was around $200. It seems there was a Volume I and II.
I just went to the architect CT list and under R.E. Hall there is only one theatre listed under his name….Florida Theatre in Jacksonville FL. So there should be 2 theatres listed under his name now.
The Carolina Theatre was actually designed by R.E. Hall, not Graven and Mayger. The drawings and picture can be found in the book “American Theatres of Todayâ€.
I’ve just been informed that the Carolina Theatre was designed by architects, Graven and Mayger, but it isn’t listed on the CT Graven and Mayger CT link.